Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom has attracted controversy in the past: particularly at the time of the 2001 Census where the existence and nature of such a classification, which appeared on the Census form, became more widely known than general.
Different classifications, both formal and informal, are used in the UK.
explain this as follows:
The current ONS classification, which was also used for classifying ethnicity in the 2001 UK Census, is given below. Slightly different categories were employed in Scotland
and Northern Ireland
, as compared with England and Wales
, "to reflect local differences in the requirement for information". However, the data collected still allow for comparison across the UK. Different classifications were used in the 1991 Census, which was the first to include a question on ethnicity.
More detail on this classification is available on the National Statistics website.
, English
and Cornish
(at present, the tick boxes only include British, Irish or any other).
Some experts, community and special interest group respondents also pointed out that the 'Black African' category is too broad. They remarked that the category does not provide enough information on the considerable diversity that exists within the various populations currently classified under this heading. This concealed heterogeneity ultimately makes the gathered data of limited use analytically. To remedy this, the Muslim Council of Britain
proposes that this census category be broken down instead into specific ethnic groups:
The National Association of British Arabs and other Arab
organizations have also lobbied for the inclusion of a separate "Arab" entry, which would include under-reported groups from the Arab world
such as Syria
ns, Somalis
and Yemen
is.
The specimen 2011 Census questions were published in 2009 and included new "Gypsy or Irish Traveller" and "Arab" categories.
system.
This classification is still referred to on some police websites and police chase TV shows, e.g. "Driver is IC1 male, passenger is IC3 male".
From 1 April 2003, police forces were required to use the new system described above. Police forces and civil and emergency services, the NHS and local authorities in England and Wales may refer to this as the "16+1" system
, named for the 16 classifications of ethnicity plus one category for "not stated". The IC classification is still used for descriptions of suspects by police officers amongst themselves, but does risk incorrectly identifying a victim a witness or a suspect compared to that person's own description of their ethnicity. When a person is stopped by a police officer exercising statutory powers and asked to provide information under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
, they are asked to select one of the five main categories representing broad ethnic groups and then a more specific cultural background from within this group. Officers must record the respondent's answer, not their own opinion.
Different classifications, both formal and informal, are used in the UK.
National statistics
The ethnicity data used in UK national statistics relies on individuals' self-definition. The Office for National StatisticsOffice for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
explain this as follows:
The current ONS classification, which was also used for classifying ethnicity in the 2001 UK Census, is given below. Slightly different categories were employed in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, as compared with England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, "to reflect local differences in the requirement for information". However, the data collected still allow for comparison across the UK. Different classifications were used in the 1991 Census, which was the first to include a question on ethnicity.
| England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| White | White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mixed |
|
|
|
|
Indian |
|
|
|
Pakistani and other South Asian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Asian or Asian British |
|
|
|
|
Chinese |
|
|
|
Other ethnic group |
|
|
|
|
Not stated |
|
|
|
|
| Black or Black British |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not stated | |
| Chinese or other ethnic group | ||
|
|
||
|
|
||
| Not stated |
More detail on this classification is available on the National Statistics website.
Proposed changes to the 2011 Census regarding ethnicity
There have been calls for the 2011 national census in England and Wales to include extra tick boxes so people can identify their ethnic group in category A as WelshWelsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
, English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
(at present, the tick boxes only include British, Irish or any other).
Some experts, community and special interest group respondents also pointed out that the 'Black African' category is too broad. They remarked that the category does not provide enough information on the considerable diversity that exists within the various populations currently classified under this heading. This concealed heterogeneity ultimately makes the gathered data of limited use analytically. To remedy this, the Muslim Council of Britain
Muslim Council of Britain
The Muslim Council of Britain is a self-appointed umbrella body for national, regional, local and specialist organisations and institutions from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds within British Islamic society. It was established in 1997 to help Muslims, to increase education about the...
proposes that this census category be broken down instead into specific ethnic groups:
The National Association of British Arabs and other Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
organizations have also lobbied for the inclusion of a separate "Arab" entry, which would include under-reported groups from the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
such as Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
ns, Somalis
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
is.
The specimen 2011 Census questions were published in 2009 and included new "Gypsy or Irish Traveller" and "Arab" categories.
Police
The police services of the UK began to classify arrests in racial groups in 1975, but later replaced the race code with an Identity Code (IC)IC codes
IC codes are shorthand terms used by the British police in radio communications to describe the apparent ethnicity of a suspect. The codes are based on a police officer's perceived view of an individual's ethnicity, as opposed to that individual's self-definition.In most circumstances where an...
system.
- IC1 White person
- IC2 Mediterranean person
- IC3 African/Caribbean person
- IC4 Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Maldivian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, or any other (South) Asian person
- IC5 Chinese, Japanese, or South-East Asian person
- IC6 Arabic, Egyptian or Maghreb person
- IC0 Origin unknown
This classification is still referred to on some police websites and police chase TV shows, e.g. "Driver is IC1 male, passenger is IC3 male".
From 1 April 2003, police forces were required to use the new system described above. Police forces and civil and emergency services, the NHS and local authorities in England and Wales may refer to this as the "16+1" system
Self Defined Ethnicity
Self Defined Ethnicity codes are a set of codes used by the Home Office in the United Kingdom to classify an individual's ethnicity according to that person's self-definition....
, named for the 16 classifications of ethnicity plus one category for "not stated". The IC classification is still used for descriptions of suspects by police officers amongst themselves, but does risk incorrectly identifying a victim a witness or a suspect compared to that person's own description of their ethnicity. When a person is stopped by a police officer exercising statutory powers and asked to provide information under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
, they are asked to select one of the five main categories representing broad ethnic groups and then a more specific cultural background from within this group. Officers must record the respondent's answer, not their own opinion.